Android 5.0 Lollipop is the first fully 64-bit compatible version of android.
In 2017, Google Play notified developers that applications that use 32-bit native libraries must begin offering 64-bit versions. This initial announcement opened an opening for the very first 64-bit-compatible version of Android that can be found in Android 5.0 Lollipop.
What made the Android OS evolve? Why was it so crucial to its evolution, and where does Android now? Get a seat and read more!
The story of how it began was with 32-bit CPUs
In the beginning, Android OS was a 32-bit operating system. It needed several important updates before Android OS began working with 64-bit CPUs.
Additionally, as recently 2024, several games and apps that work with 32-bit CPUs are accessible through Google Play. We’re back to the beginning of the first 64-bit Android OS. In 2008, HTC launched its HTC Dream device, which was equipped with a 32-bit processor.
It was as small as any of the many processors in the latest Android devices, but in the past, it could be running Android 1.0. A few years later, HTC brought another Android device to market – HTC Desire 510, HTC Desire 510 — the first 64-bit compatible Android smartphone.
It was the Desire 510. However, it was not released at the appropriate time to take advantage of the processor because there were no 64-bit apps.
There were plenty of 32-bit Android phones, so developers were not in a hurry to create 64-bit applications. The situation changed after Google Play announced a transition to a 64-bit version of the compatibility version.
Android 5.0 Lollipop is the first fully 64-bit compatible version of android
As previously mentioned, Android 5.0 Lollipop was the first 64-bit, fully capable Android version released in 2014.
Three years after it was first announced, Google vocalized its demand for the support of the 64-bit processor in 2017. Two years following that to bring the update to the entire ecosystem.
Since launching the first 64-bit Android version, Google has taken huge steps to provide the most optimal experience to all Android users. With the transition to 64-bit processors, Google will provide a faster, safer, and more efficient user experience and improve performance across the board.
In the next phase, the new apps and updates made available to existing applications on Google Play have to be compatible with 64-bit CPUs to guarantee smooth operation on smartphones that are set to be available in 2024.
What does 64-bit compatibility bring to the table?
Today, almost 90 percent of desktop and mobile Android devices support 64-bit processors (starting at 5.0 Lollipop). Benefits of 64-bit processors include:
- 64-bit CPUs can handle an immense volume of files, which means that both new and existing technologies can be used on mobile devices.
- 64-bit processors can operate more efficiently and handle larger pieces of data faster than 32-bit processors, and this results in improved performance, up to 20% more efficient in certain instances.
- 64-bit devices are also consistently shown to have a greater response.
Developers will also benefit by exclusively developing their apps to work on 64-bit Android phones. This makes development simpler, less costly, and lengthy. Additionally, developers will gain from a more diverse ecosystem.
What’s next?
In all likelihood, the first version that was fully 64-bit compatible with Android had brought many positive updates and changes when it was first introduced to the scene and continues until today.
With benefits such as superior performance and the security of the whole Android environment, 64-bit processors provide exciting prospects. In addition, it can help developers prepare for future technological advancements, like the new immersive artificial intelligence and mobile capabilities.
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